Oral care package

ABSTRACT

An oral care implement package is described herein. The oral care implement package can have a backer with a vapor impermeable layer attached thereto. The backer is attached to a plastic shell. An oral care implement having a scented tongue cleaner and/or a scented handle is positioned between the plastic shell and the vapor impermeable layer. The vapor impermeable layer reducing the amount of scent released from the tongue cleaner and/or handle while the oral care implement is in the package.

CROSS REFERENCE

This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/359935, filed on Jun. 30, 2010, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains to a personal hygiene packaging, more particularly to packaging for oral care devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In order to enhance a brushing experience of a user, there are toothbrushes available which offer a scented tongue cleaner and/or a scented handle. In general, during use, the scent of the tongue cleaner and/or handle is released from the toothbrush in such quantities that the user can detect the scent, thereby enhancing the brushing experience by the user.

These toothbrushes are generally packaged in standard toothbrush packaging. Specifically, the standard toothbrush packages include a plastic outer shell which is attached to a plastic or cardboard backer. These packages typically include slits or openings in the backer to facilitate the removal of the toothbrush by the user. However, these slits or openings additionally may allow the scent to be emitted from the toothbrush while the toothbrush is still on the shelf Depending on how long the toothbrush sits on the shelf, the toothbrush may release a substantial amount of the scent. This can result in lower concentrations of scent available for the user upon purchase.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The oral care implement package of the present invention may reduce the amount of leakage of scent from the oral care implement while the oral care implement is in the package. In some embodiments, the oral care package comprises a plastic shell, a backer, a vapor impermeable layer, and an oral care implement. The plastic shell provides a first surface of the package while the backer provides a second surface of the package. The vapor impermeable layer is attached to the backer and the backer is attached to the plastic shell. The oral care implement is positioned between the plastic shell and the vapor impermeable layer. The oral care implement comprises a scented tongue cleaner and/or a scented handle. The vapor impermeable layer is capable or reducing the amount of scent released from the tongue cleaner and/or the handle while the oral care implement is in the package.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of an oral care implement package constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 1B is side view of the oral care implement package of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1C is a side view of a backer of the oral care implement package of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1D is a back view of the oral care implement package of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of an oral care implement package constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2B is a side view of the oral care implement package of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 2C is a side view of a backer of the oral care implement package of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 2D is a back view of the oral care implement package of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3A is a back side view of a toothbrush constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3B is a side view of the toothbrush of FIG. 3A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Definitions:

The following text sets forth a broad description of numerous different embodiments of the present invention. The description is to be construed as exemplary only and does not describe every possible embodiment since describing every possible embodiment would be impractical, if not impossible, and it will be understood that any feature, characteristic, component, composition, ingredient, product, step or methodology described herein can be deleted, combined with or substituted for, in whole or part, any other feature, characteristic, component, composition, ingredient, product, step or methodology described herein. Numerous alternative embodiments could be implemented, using either current technology or technology developed after the filing date of this patent, which would still fall within the scope of the claims. All publications and patents cited herein are incorporated herein by reference.

It should also be understood that, unless a term is expressly defined in this patent using the sentence “As used herein, the term ‘______’ is hereby defined to mean . . . ” or a similar sentence, there is no intent to limit the meaning of that term, either expressly or by implication, beyond its plain or ordinary meaning, and such term should not be interpreted to be limited in scope based on any statement made in any section of this patent (other than the language of the claims). No term is intended to be essential to the present invention unless so stated. To the extent that any term recited in the claims at the end of this patent is referred to in this patent in a manner consistent with a single meaning, that is done for sake of clarity only so as to not confuse the reader, and it is not intended that such claim term be limited, by implication or otherwise, to that single meaning. Finally, unless a claim element is defined by reciting the word “means” and a function without the recital of any structure, it is not intended that the scope of any claim element be interpreted based on the application of 35 U.S.C. §112, sixth paragraph.

Description:

For ease of explanation, the oral hygiene implement described hereafter shall be a manual toothbrush; however, an oral hygiene implement constructed in accordance with the present invention is not limited to a manual toothbrush construction and may be implemented in a refill for a power toothbrush or a power toothbrush package including a handle and an oral care attachment. Other oral care implements/accessories are contemplated for use with the present invention, floss picks, toothpicks, floss, and the like.

An oral care package constructed in accordance with the present invention can reduce the amount of scent released to the atmosphere thereby retaining a higher level of scent concentration on the oral care implement.

As shown in FIGS. 1A through 1D, in one embodiment, a package 10 in accordance with the present invention may comprise a plastic shell 20 and a backer 30. The backer 30 may include an impermeable layer 40. The impermeable layer 40 can be vapor impermeable such that any scent applied to the oral care implement is contained within the package 10 for a longer period of time than that of the conventional toothbrush package.

In order to maintain a seal between the plastic shell 20 and the backer 30, the plastic shell 20 may be attached to the backer 30 continuously along the perimeter of the plastic shell 20 and/or the backer 30. In some embodiments, the backer 30 and/or the plastic shell 20 may be provided with a gasket in order to reduce the amount of scent that is given off by the toothbrush while in the package.

The impermeable layer 40 may be provided on one side of the backer 30 or may be provided on multiple sides. In some embodiments, the impermeable layer 40 is provided on a front side 50 of the backer 30 which faces the interior of the package 10. In such embodiments, the backer 30 may include a weakened area 70 on a backside facing surface 60 which can facilitate the removal of the toothbrush from the package 10.

The weakened area 70 may comprise slits, skives, reduced thickness, the like, and/or combinations thereof. In such embodiments, the weakened area 70 may extend through the thickness of the backer 30 and may not extend through the impermeable layer 40. This may be the case for those embodiments which include the impermeable layer 40 on the front side 50. In such embodiments, because the weakened area 70 does not extend through the impermeable layer 40, the amount of scent released while the toothbrush is in the package should be reduced over that of standard packaging.

In some embodiments, the oral care implement may be separately wrapped inside the toothbrush package. The separate wrapping of the toothbrush may include impermeable material and may be positioned such that the amount of scent released from the package is reduced. For example, a tongue cleaner of the oral care implement may be individually wrapped and/or the handle of the oral care implement may be individually wrapped.

A toothbrush package 200 including multiple oral care implements may similarly be constructed in accordance with the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 2A through 2D, the package 200 may comprise a plurality of oral care implements. Similar to the package 10 (shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1D), the package 200 may comprise a plastic shell 220 and a backer 230. The backer 230 may include an impermeable layer 240. The impermeable layer 240 can be vapor impermeable such that any scent applied to the oral care implement is contained within the package 200 for a longer period of time than that of the conventional toothbrush package.

In order to maintain a seal between the plastic shell 220 and the backer 230, the plastic shell 220 may be attached to the backer 230 continuously along the perimeter of the plastic shell 220 and/or the backer 230. In some embodiments, the backer 230 and/or the plastic shell 220 may be provided with a gasket in order to reduce the amount of scent that is given off by the toothbrush while in the package.

The impermeable layer 240 may be provided on one side of the backer 230 or may be provided on multiple sides. In some embodiments, the impermeable layer 240 is provided on a front side 250 of the backer 230 which faces the interior of the package 200. In such embodiments, the backer 230 may include a plurality of weakened areas 270 and 271 on a backside facing surface 260 which can facilitate the removal of an oral care implement from the package 200.

The plastic shell 220 and/or the backer 230 may be configured such that a separation wall exists between the oral care implements. In such embodiments, a user may remove a toothbrush from one side of the package and not disrupt the seal for the other side of the package.

The weakened areas 270 and 271 may comprise slits, skives, reduced thickness, the like, and/or combinations thereof. In such embodiments, the weakened areas 270 and 271 may extend through the thickness of the backer 230 and may not extend through the impermeable layer 240. This may be the case for those embodiments which include the impermeable layer 240 on the front side 250. In such embodiments, because the weakened areas 270 and 271 do not extend through the impermeable layer 240, the amount of scent released while the toothbrush is in the package should be reduced over that of standard packaging.

In some embodiments, in order to facilitate the removal of the oral care implement from the package, the impermeable layer 40, 240, may be formed of a material which can be easily disrupted by the user. For example, the impermeable layer 40, 240 may include frangible areas which correspond to the weakened areas 70, 270, and/or 271. However, in order to reduce the leakage of scent from the package 10, 200, the frangible areas may still provide some level of impermeability.

A suitable example of an oral care implement which can be provided in the package(s) f the present invention is a toothbrush. Regarding FIGS. 3A and 3B, a toothbrush 300 may comprise a handle 310, a head 320, and a neck 330 extending between the handle 310 and the head 320. The handle 310 may include a scented portion. For example, the handle 310 may comprise an elastomeric portion(s) 360A, 360B which includes a scent and or a body portion 362 which includes a scent. Additionally, the toothbrush 300 may comprise a tongue cleaner 370 which includes scented material.

The head 320 as shown comprise a plurality of cleaning elements 350 and the tongue cleaner 370. The cleaning elements 350 may comprise bristle tufts and/or elastomeric massage/cleaning elements. In some embodiments, a portion of the cleaning elements 350 may comprise a scent.

In some embodiments, the toothbrush 300 may be positioned between the plastic shell 20, 220 and the backer 30, 230. Additionally, in some embodiments, the toothbrush 300 may be positioned between the plastic shell 20, 220 and the impermeable layer 40, 240.

Embodiments of the package are contemplated where the plastic shell and or the backer includes the scent which is present on the toothbrush thereby allowing users to smell the scent on the toothbrush prior to removal from the package. Additionally, embodiments are contemplated where a separate scent element is attached to the plastic shell and or the backer which can provide the scent to the user.

The plastic shell 20, 220 may comprise any suitable material. Some suitable examples of material include amorphous polyethylene terephthalate (A-PET), combinations, laminate structures including polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, and foil made of ethyl vinyl alcohol, laminate structures comprising a layer of A-PET, a layer of polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PET-G) and another layer of PET-G. The layers may be arranged in any suitable arrangement. For example, the A-PET layer may be sandwiched between the two layers of PET-G, e.g. PET-GAG. The A-PET layer can provide mechanical strength to the laminate while the layers of PET-G are printable and sealable. Other examples include of a suitable materials include polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

Any suitable thickness of these materials may be utilized. For example, a thickness of 0.4 mm may be utilized.

The backer 30 and 230 may comprise any suitable material. Some examples of suitable material include paper products, cardboard; PVC in combination with a PVC plastic shell; PET-GAG in combination with a PET-GAG plastic shell, combinations thereof Any suitable thickness may be utilized. For example, a thickness of 0.3 mm may be utilized for the overall thickness of the backer.

The impermeable layer 40, 240 may comprise any suitable material. Some examples of suitable material include an aluminum coating, a PVC layer, a PET-GAG layer, polyester film, or combinations thereof. The aluminum coating may comprise a plurality of flakes of aluminum which may be attached to the backer 30 via an adhesive during a transfer process. The flakes of aluminum can provide a level of impermeability while still providing good adhesion between the plastic shell 20, 220, the backer 30. The aluminum coating may comprise a continuous foil which can be adhesively attached to the backer 30.

As stated previously, in order to reduce the leakage from the package, the backer may be devoid of weakened areas. However, in some embodiments, for example where a PET-GAG is utilized, the backer may include weakened areas. For example, the weakened area may extend only through a portion of the laminate, e.g. through an outermost facing PET-G layer and/or through the A-PET layer while leaving the innermost PET-G layer devoid of weakened areas. This package construction may facilitate the removal of the toothbrush from the package while also reducing the amount of scent leaked from the package. In other embodiments, for example where a polyester film is utilized as an impermeable layer, the backer may comprise weakened areas. The weakened areas can extend through the backer but not through the polyester film.

Additional embodiments are contemplated where the impermeable layer comprises a first weakened area which corresponds to a second weakened area in the backer 30. The first weakened area may overlay and correspond exactly with the second weakened area in some embodiments. In other embodiments, the first weakened area may be shorter in length and/or width than the second weakened area. It is believed that by limiting the extent of the first weakened area, a substantially vapor proof package may be realized. Suitable weakened areas for the first weakened area may be as described heretofore with regard to the weakened area of the backer 30. Other suitable forms of weakened areas for the first weakened area may comprise openings in the impermeable layer.

The impermeable layers disclosed herein may be applied in any suitable manner. For example, the backer 30, 230 and the impermeable layer 40, 240 may be laminated together to form a unitary structure. In some embodiments, the impermeable layer 40, 240, may be wrapped around the backer 30, 230. In some embodiments, the impermeable layer 40, 240, may be adhesively attached to the backer 30, 230. In some embodiments, an aluminum layer, e.g. foil, may be attached to a paper backer. In other embodiments, an aluminum layer, e.g. foil may be sandwiched between two paper layers. In still other embodiments, a PET-GAG layer may be sandwiched between two paper layers. In still other embodiments, a PET-GAG layer may be attached to a paper layer.

In some embodiments, the PET described heretofore, may be bio based. For example, the PET may comprise from about 25 to about 75 weight percent of a terephthalate component and from about 20 to about 50 weight percent of a diol component, wherein at least about one weight percent of at least one of the terephthalate and/or the diol component is derived from at least one bio-based material. Similarly, the terephthalate component may be derived from a bio based material. Some examples of suitable bio based materials include but are not limited to corn, sugarcane, beet, potato, starch, citrus fruit, woody plant, cellulosic lignin, plant oil, natural fiber, oily wood feedstock, and a combination thereof.

Some of the specific components of the PET may be bio based. For example, monoethylene glycol and terephthalic acid may be formed from bio based materials. The formation of bio based PET and its manufacture are described in United States Patent Application Publication Nos. 20090246430A1 and 20100028512A1.

Additionally, the laminate structures described herein may include at least one layer formed from a bio based material. Such structures are described in WO2009032748.

The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as “40 mm” is intended to mean “about 40 mm.”

Every document cited herein, including any cross referenced or related patent or application, is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety unless expressly excluded or otherwise limited. The citation of any document is not an admission that it is prior art with respect to any invention disclosed or claimed herein or that it alone, or in any combination with any other reference or references, teaches, suggests or discloses any such invention. Further, to the extent that any meaning or definition of a term in this document conflicts with any meaning or definition of the same term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition assigned to that term in this document shall govern.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this invention. Moreover, the various features of the embodiments described herein may be interchangeable unless otherwise noted. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An oral care implement package comprising: a plastic shell providing a first surface of the package; a backer providing a second surface of the package; an impermeable layer attached to the backer, and the impermeable layer being attached to the plastic shell; and an oral care implement positioned between the plastic shell and the impermeable layer, the oral care implement comprising a scented tongue cleaner and/or a scented handle, and wherein the impermeable layer is capable of reducing the amount of scent released from the tongue cleaner and/or the handle while the oral care implement is in the package. 